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The world's top-earning footballer, Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi won an EU court battle on April 26, 2018 to register his surname as a trademark to sell sports goods. | AFP-Josep Lago

Lionel Messi, the world's top earning footballer, won a legal battle Thursday to register his name as a trademark to sell sports goods after an EU court ruled that he is too famous to be confused with other businesses.

The Barcelona and Argentina attacker rode out a seven-year challenge by a Spanish cycling gear manufacturer called Massi, which protested that his trademark was too similar to its own.

"Lionel Messi may register his trade mark 'MESSI' for sports equipment and clothing," said a ruling by the General Court of the European Union, the bloc's second-highest court.

"The football player's fame counteracts the visual and phonetic similarities between his trademark and the trademark 'MASSI' belonging to a Spanish company," the Luxembourg-based court said.